Loading a cartridge pen is a short, repeatable routine. These are the general mechanical steps for the device, using the Gansulin metal pen and a standard 3 ml cartridge as the example. This is device familiarisation only; always follow the instructions that came with your specific instrument.
1. Open the pen
Remove the pen cap and unscrew the cartridge holder from the body. If an empty cartridge is inside, remove it.
Gansulin Metal Reusable Pen (1-60 Units, 3 ml Cartridges)
2. Seat the cartridge
Insert the new 3 ml cartridge into the holder, crimped-cap end first so it registers against the holder. Screw the holder back onto the body until it clicks home. On the Gansulin pen you will hear and feel a definite click when it is seated.
The needle interface
The holder terminates in a standard screw-on pen-needle interface. Needles are an external accessory: they are not included and are not sold by us, and how a needle is used is outside the scope of this article, which covers the pen mechanism only.
Standard 3 ml Glass Cartridges for Pens (10-Pack)
Clearing the air gap
When a cartridge is first loaded, a little air can sit at the top. Holding the pen upright, dialling a small amount and gently tapping the holder moves a trapped bubble upward; advancing the plunger then closes the gap. Clearing that air gap is what keeps the metering honest, so the amount you dial matches the amount the mechanism moves, one click per unit.
3. Set your amount
Turn the dose knob to the amount you want, from 1 to 60 units. Each click is one unit; the dose window shows the number. To convert between mg, ml and units, use our reconstitution calculator.
After use
Replace the pen cap and store the pen in its case. If any external accessory was fitted, remove and dispose of it appropriately. See how a dial-a-dose pen works for more on the mechanism.
PreppinPeppers sells laboratory hardware and consumables for research, educational, and demonstration use only. This article is general educational information about equipment and does not describe, recommend, or instruct the use of any peptide or other substance in humans or animals. Nothing here is medical advice.